Akrav israchanani is an extinct species of scorpions from the Ayalon Cave in Israel.[1] It is the only species in the genus Akrav and the family Akravidae.

Akrav
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Superfamily: Chactoidea
Family: Akravidae
Levy, 2007
Genus: Akrav
Levy, 2007
Species:
A. israchanani
Binomial name
Akrav israchanani
Levy, 2007

Description

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Akrav israchanani was an eyeless, brown, troglobitic scorpion of about 50mm in length first described from only 20 dry, cuticular remains of hollow carcasses.[1] The combinations of characteristics was unusual enough for the scorpion to be placed in its own, monotypic family, however this has been called into question by later researchers.[2]

The name Akrav israchanani combines the Hebrew word for scorpion, "akrav", with the names of the researchers who identified it, Israel Naaman and Hanan Dimentman.[3]

Habitat and distribution

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The scorpion was originally known only from the Ayalon Cave in Israel, a deep limestone cave, isolated from rainwater and the surface by a layer of chalk. The extinction of the scorpion is inferred from the lack of live or recently dead specimens.[1][2] In December 2015, more scorpion remains were found in the nearby Levana Cave.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Levy, 2007 "The first troglobite scorpion from Israel and a new chactoid family (Arachnida: Scorpiones)" [1]
  2. ^ a b Victor Fet, Michael E. Soleglad & Sergei L. Zonstein, 2011 "The genus Akrav Levy, 2007 (Scorpiones: Akravidae) revisited" [2]
  3. ^ "One year later, 'Noah's Ark' cave is no longer a safe haven". Haaretz. 19 July 2007. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "The second record of a relict Akrav israchanani Levy, 2007 (Scorpiones: Akravidae) from Levana Cave, Israel" (PDF). Occasional Publications in Scorpiology.